Portman 'wanted a creative outlet'

Portman was discussing her short film Eve at the Venice Film Festival, which marks her directorial debut.

The movie stars Lauren Bacall - and Portman said it was "rare" to see someone with the actress's experience and wisdom on screen.

Such was the clamour to see Portman's work when it opened the short films section of the festival on Monday that hundreds of people queued round the block.

Asked why she became a director, Portman said: "I was always interested in trying to write and direct. We have so much time off between filming as actors that we tend to get restless and we want a creative outlet. There is not always acting work that fulfils that need."

She said in the future she hoped to continue her acting career and balance it with directing, adding she had a "whole new respect" for directors.

Portman said that going to watch films was an "amazing experience". She continued: "I hope we preserve the theatre aspect of it. I think it's important to experience it with other people, not just alone on an iPod or something."

The young star, whose film career already spans 16 years, spoke about watching a film back as a director: "If there's anything that's askew it's up to you. That's pretty horrifying."

Portman said she probably needed to do more acting before directing a longer film.

Paying tribute to veteran actress Bacall, Portman said: "The fact that she agreed to do this was a wonderful, wonderful surprise. She can do anything. She has so much to offer. She's so remarkable. It is so exciting to see someone with that much experience and that much wisdom on screen and it's rare."